Semi-automatic telephone system.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7| ISIS. y

Patented July 3, 11H7.

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Patented July 3, 1917.

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ALBEN E. LUNDELL, or NEW YoRK, N. Y., AssIGNoR, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

`SEMI-AU'lOMAlIG TELEPEONE SYSTEM.

To all whomit may concern;

Be it known that I, ALBEN E. LnNnELL, a

4citizen of the United States,-\.residing at@ ew York, in the county of Bronx and Stateof isa full, clear, concise, and exact description. 4

This invention relates tol telephone sys tems, and particularly to semi-automatic' telephone exchange systems.

` It has been the pract'ce, In the operation"` Vof semiautomatic telephone exchangesgfor ythe operator to write a memorandum o n all subs ' scriber. The Writing of this memorandum introduces a considerable drag on the operator, and in addition, is the cause of rlnging many` wrong numbers, it being `found .that

numerical keys with a pencil in her hand,

which practice results in the depression of -memorandum of the calledline is avoided.V

theJ wrong key. An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of means whereby the necessity of the operator making a To this -end a circuit arrangement is provided whereby the sender apparatus remains attached 'to the cordy circuit until a certain interval of time after the response of the called subscriber, and additional means are provided so that, upto the time of there lease of the sender, the operator can determine theregister setting on the associated connection.

In the operation of semi-automatic telephone exchanges having party lines incororated therein, considerable trouble has een"experienced when one partyV on a line calls another party4 on the same line, by having the called party test busy, with. the consequent loss Qf'a call. Another object of this' invention relates, therefore, to an im' proved method of handling revertive calls in a semi-automatic telephone system.

Briefly, the operation otl the system is as follows: A subscriber S Wishing to talk With another subscriber T removes his receiver from the switch hook to light a lamp at the central station. The operator, observing thelamp, inserts a plug` of a cord cir cuit into the ack corresponding to the lamp,

j Specication of' Letters ratent.

Patented July 3,1917.

fri-@gunman ined 'september 7, A1915. serialm. 49,235,

spending to the number of the wanted subscriber, to control switches which hunt for ithe terminals of the wanted line.r The registers, connected with the numerical keys, are so arranged that they are held' in their set position until .the called subscriber answers. ConnectedV to the register is an indicatin ,device on which the number of the calle -.s1\1bscriber isdisplayed,"by`lamps or ina-nyccmvenient manner, in the listening .in position` of the listening sequenceswitch. ,Also, and untilgthe called subscriber answers, the operator may, after the listening sequence switch has passed out of listening in position,'depress va listening key to move the listening sequence switch out of any position it may occupy at that "instant, into listening-in position, to-again display the number of the called subscriber on the indieating1 device. The ability t0 do this obviates t of the called partys number.

Should the call be a revertive one, the

called linefwill naturally test busy. `To

e necessity of writing a- `memorandum determine Whether or not` this is a revertive callVthe-operator depresses her listening key sending thev listening sequence switc into listening position, and displaying the number ofthe called party on theA indicatingdevice. She then compares the number of the called line with the number of the jack of the calling line, and, if the call is a revertive one, she asks the calling party to hang up his receiver for a moment, until she 'rings the called party. The calling party, after a short interval of time,` again removes his receiver from the switch hook, and7 the'called subscriber having been rung, the calling and called subscribers are tele-,p

. phonically Connected.

Figures 1, 2 and V3 taken together, with Fig. 2 below Fig. l and Fig. 3 to the right of Fig. 2, illustrate diagrammatically a telephone system embodying this invention with enough .of the telephone system shown to illustrate an application of the invention thereto. telephone system to which this invention maybe applied, reference may be had to For a complete exposition of a` hundreds, teus and units regis keys .above referred to, and ti Patent 1,100,819 granted 'to A. Lunidell, January 18, '1916, or to Patent No. 1,125,570 granted to F. 1i.. McBerty January 19, 1915.

A subscriber S, Wishing to converse with another subscriber T, removes his receiver from the switch hook closing the circuit iairougb the 1in/e. relay 100, which attracts its armature, causing the iighting of the line lamp 101- The operator, observing the ianip 101 lighted, inserts plug i102 of a cord circuit tinto the jack 103 associated with the line lanip 101. The insertion of plug 1.02 closes a circuit from battery, relay 117, Asleeve ol" the plug 102, sleeve of the jack 1.03, cut-off 'relay 104i, and thence to ground, thus causing the energization of relay .117 and cutod relay 104 which attracts its armatures causing thc deinergization oi the line relay 100 and the consequent extinguishing' of the line lamp 101.

The energization o1 relay 117 closes a circuit from battery through the motor magnet of sequence switch 105, sequence switch contact 118, contact and'left-hand armature of relay 1157', and thence to ground. Sequence switch 105 moves from the first to {Msecond position,

The cnergization of relay 11'? Ilse doses a circuit, from battery through the Motor magnet olf sequence switch 107, contact 119 of sequence switch 107, contact and rightliand armature of relay 117, and thence to ground. Sequence switch 107 moves from position one to position seven.

The passing the sequence switch 105 from the first to the second position, and of sequence switch 107' from the first to the Seventh position` closes a circuit from bat-- ter i, through relay 21.0, contacts 211 of sen qltnce switch 200` contact 1Q() of sequence switch 107, contact 121 of sequence switch 105,:1nd thence to grou1id,causi ug the energization oi' relay210., This in turn closes a circuit from battery, motor n'iagnet olii* quence switch 13200, contact 212 of sequence switch 200. Contact and arii'iatiu'e ot' relay 310, and thence to ground, starting the sequence switch 200 of the cord finder in search of the cord taken for use in a manner well known and disclosed in the above inentioned Patent No. 1,168,319.

The operator, being uoW in cmnmunicwtion with the calling' subscriber", ;,=scertaiu's the nuirnher o1 the wanted Fine and depri number keys corresponding to the munter of the called line, zfvhich keys close the corH` responding coiitacts 11,15, i) of the district brush and district grou-p registers and tar-,ts 300, E101, 302', oi' the inou-i ters re tively. and should the called partn on a partyV line, Contact of the register is closed. The mania which the Aregister contacts are closed is not shown or illustrated herein, and for a complete description thereof reference is had to the above cited patents.

Attached to the registers is an indicating device 31 containing a plurality of sections corresponding to the thousands,- hundreds, tens and units, the station, the district and the group of lines in the exchange.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be geen that the thousands, hundreds, tens and units groups each contain ten indicating devices, such as lamps which may be selectively operated vin accor ance with'the nuinber of the called line set up on the register.

'We Will assume that the number ol" the called line is 5487, that the district brush corresponding to this station;` is represented Vdescribed we will assume that the callingsubscriber is on a straight line, that is, as distinguished from a party line7 but when describing a reverting call we will assume that the calling' party is the third party on the line and, therefore, the stations register will be represented the digit in the proper section of the indicating device 315.

Located at the cord finder are indicating control relays 201, 02 and 203 which con- '9 trol, at their various aruuitures, break points in the operating circuits for the various banks of signals shown in the indicating device and in the iisteuingdn position (position. 7) of the listening key sequence switch 107 a circuit is completed from battery through the relays 201, 202 and Q03 in series Atroni battery, conductors 204, 205, sequence switch contact 108, to ground, energizinl said re lays and causing the number of the. called line to'iie visually dislgilayed on the indica ing device 315 aler the called partys uuu;- her has been set up in the usual manner. 1 listeningrseql'lence switch 107 moves cui, its seventh position, relays 201, I denergized, oliiliterating the indication ci' the called line, and we will assume that call progresses in. the usual mannerg' chat ther-.died subscriber is not using' his apparatus and', therefore, his iine is found idle i ou test, .ringing takes place and suo' yriher tri placed intelephonic communication with subscriber T.

If during the progress of the call, and until the called suhscri er answers necessary, for any reason, for tl to ascertain the number of 4 tactsii of saidsequence switch, contacts the circuit as previously traced.

- 315, and again displaying `ground,'energizing the super'xisory cess'ful call, a circuit is completed from battery, one winding of the repeatin coil 110 supervisory relay 111,5out. over t e line ci the called subscriber and back through another winding of therepeating'coil 110 to 11-1 and completing a circuit from battery, lower right contact-of v sequence switch contact 112, -armature and. front conteto 'supervisory relay'lil, conductor 113,4upper right contact of sequence switch contact 114,

conductor 2 09, time release relay .2( )6" .to l Iground at the interrupting devicej207'. Y i device 207 closes this circuit, the time reease relay 206 -wil1 be energized,

When the interruptin attracting its armature and completing a locking circuit for itselr` at its inner armature,

battery' 4one winding tactV of t'he time sequence :ilswitch 20.0

the final sequence maintaining itself energizedhappens at the interrupting device 207. When the interrupting device 2 08 closes its circuit, it will place a ground at the outer armature and front conrelease relay 4206 to move yofi the cord finder out of-,itssixteenth and-into its seventeenth (po ir'respective of what `sition,from 'whichfposition it willbe connected 'from .the cord .circuit taken for use 'and returned tof-normal in the usual niemeer- Iifthef called s ubscribers line tests busy,

' switchmoves into the sevcompleting a circuit from 0f Athe repeating coil 110. j uper'visory relay 111 -to`groundat theinterrupting devicell, and a busy sigenteenth position,

nal will be transmitted back to the callingsubscriber. lUnder-'these conditions the time release relay 206 "willi be intermittently energized. Venlever, the relation of the invterrupters connected to the saine-rotating shaft, is suc "I that, While'A the circuit is completed through through 2.07 is broken,

of sequence' switch 200 'doesnotreceive the energy to move itout.

is broken,I 208- Iis established, that .and therefore the cuit 'through 20B circuit through motor magnet sixteenth position, The cord fore` remains connected relay,

device operating in accordance .time after-the call has progressed beyond the 'telephone lines,

inggcircuitsfan indicating device and a reg 207 an d.2 08 which are rigidi mined position after .said .switch aspro greased toanadvancedposition.

until after the operator removes the plug 102 from the jack 103', when it is disconnected in a manner well known in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a plurality of telephone lines, a connecting circuit for interconnecting said lines, an indicating device thercfor,-a register for registering the number or' the called line, said indicating device operating in accordance with the number set up on the register, and' means under the control of the operator, at any time after the-call has progressed 'beyond the position where the called number was rst displayed on said indicatin device, for. displaying said number on said indicating device.

2. In a telephone system, a plurality of telephone lines, connecting circuits'l for interconnecting said lines, an indicating device common to a plurality of said connect- .ing circuits, a register for recording the number of the called line, said indicating with the number set up on the register, and a key under the.A control of the operator, at any positionl Where the ca led number was first displayed on said .indicating device, for displaying said number on sa1d indicating device.

" ,3; In a. telephone` system, .a plurality of telephone lines, a connecting circuit for interconnecting 'said lines, al :multi-position automatic switch and an indicating device for said circuit, a register, said indicating device operating in accordance with tle number set up on theregister for dis laying said number only 'when said switc .is in a predetermined' position, and means under the control of the operator"-for returning lie said iswitch to the predetermined posi- `4..,In a telephone system, a plurality of connecting .circuits for inter Qnnecting said lines, multi-position autoic switches individual to said connect`- istefr; said indicating device operating 1n accordance' with the number set u register for displaying 4said num r when the switch for a connecting circuit taken f or use is in a predetermined position,

for returning'said switchto said. ,l'd

-'"-Inatlerhone System, plurality f terconiiecting said. lines, multifposr mat1c sw'i tches individual'to circuits, .an indicating device ,an

"indicating device operating i hthe number set up onfsaid'regi Websearch on said' md; means under the control of the .operator-".3

for a connecting circuit taken .for use is in a predetermine position, and means under the control of the operator for returning said switch to the predetermined lposition.

6. In a telephone. system, u p'urality of telephone lines, a connecting circuit for interconnecting said lines, a multi-'position automatic switch for said connecting circuit, an indicating device and aregister adapted t'o be temporarily attached to said connecting circuitf'said indicating device. operatin in accordance with the number'ofthe called line on -the register for displaying said number only when said switch is in 'a predetermined position, means under the cont-rolof the operator for returning the said switch to the predetermined position whereby the number of the called line maybe again displayed on the indicator.

7. In a telephone system, a. plurality of telephone lines, a connecting circuitfor connection thereto, a multi-position' automatic switch fo;` said connecting circuit, an indieating device for indicatingy visually -the number ofthe called line only when said switch is in 4a predetermined position, and men-ns under the control of the-operator for returning said switch to the predetermined position, whereby the number of the called line may be again displayed on the indicator.

8. In a telephone system, a plurality of telephone lines, connecting circuits for interconnecting said lines, an' operatin `:svi/itch for each connecting circuit, an in icating device and a register, a cord finder common to a plurality of said ccnnectin circuits for placing said re ister4 and sai indicating device under the control of the 'connecting circuit taken for use, a sending device under the control of .said register operating to control selecting switches for Searching for the line corresponding yto the number on said register, operating circuits for said indienting device, mcansu't said cord finder for closing break mints in said operating-circuits, means, `un erv the control .of the' operating switch of the connecting circuit taken "for use, operating to ,control the circuit controlmeans of 'said indicating means, Awhen operating switchA is ina predetermined position, and a keyunder the-control of the operator for returning, at will, said operatin switch to the predetermined positlon.

'n Witness whereof, I"'l1e1'eunt o subscribe my name this 3rd day cffSeptember A. Df l1915.

, ALBEN nrpNDELLf. 

